1 Samuel 16:6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:6-13

If the sons of Jesse were told that God would provide himself a king among them (as he had said, 1 Sam. 16:1), we may well suppose they all made the best appearance they could, and each hoped he should be the man; but here we are told, I. How all the elder sons, who stood fairest for the preferment, were passed by. 1. Eliab, the eldest, was privately presented first to Samuel, probably none being present but Jesse only, and Samuel thought he must needs be the man: Surely this is the Lord's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:6

And it came to pass, when they were come ,.... Jesse and his sons, into the house where the entertainment was; and perhaps before they sat down, went into a private apartment by the direction of Samuel, where he acquainted Jesse with the business he came upon: that he looked on Eliab ; who was Jesse's firstborn, 1 Chronicles 2:13 , called Elihu, 1 Chronicles 27:18 . and said, surely the Lord's anointed is before him ; or this is the person it is his pleasure should be anointed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:6-10

When they were come. I.e. to the house of Jesse, apparently in the interval between the sacrifice and the feast. The latter we learn in 1 Samuel 16:11 did not take place until after David had been sent for. But many hours would elapse between the sacrifice and the feast, as the victim had to be skinned and prepared for roasting, and finally cooked. This interval was spent in Jesse's house; and when he saw there Eliab, the first born, and observed his tall stature and handsome face,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:6-13

Human and Divine judgments contrasted. The facts are— 1 . Samuel, being impressed with the appearance of Eliab, concludes that he is the coming king. 2 . An intimation is given that Eliab is not the man, and the reason assigned for the imperfect judgment of Samuel is, that man looks on the outward appearance, but God on the heart. 3 . It being found that the other sons were not chosen of God, inquiry is made concerning the absent one. 4 . On the youngest being brought,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 16:6

1 Samuel 16:6. He looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed, &c. Struck with the gracefulness and dignity of his person, he immediately concluded that this was the person whom God designed for his anointed; wherein, however, he was mistaken, as other prophets sometimes were, when they hastily spake their own thoughts, before they had consulted God. Before him That is, in this place, where God is now present. For it is observable, that not only the sacrifice is said to be... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:1-23

16:1-19:24 THE RISE OF DAVIDDavid brought to the royal court (16:1-23)When told by God to go and anoint a king to replace Saul, Samuel feared to, lest Saul kill him. God therefore told Samuel to keep the matter secret (16:1-3). Reassured by this additional word from God, Samuel went to Bethlehem, where he met the leading men of the important families in that area (4-5).The outcome of Samuel’s visit was that he anointed David, youngest son of the family of Jesse. Anointing was a way of marking... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 16:6

DAVID WAS ANOINTED BY SAMUEL IN BETHLEHEM"When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before him." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 16:6

6-10. Samuel said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him—Here Samuel, in consequence of taking his impressions from the external appearance, falls into the same error as formerly (1 Samuel 10:24). 1 Samuel 10:24- :. HE ANOINTS DAVID. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 16:1-13

David’s anointing 16:1-13This time God’s choice was not a king for the people according to their desires, but a king for Himself (1 Samuel 16:1) who would put Yahweh first (1 Samuel 13:14; cf. Galatians 4:4-5). Saul would have perceived Samuel’s act of anointing another man king as treason (1 Samuel 16:2). He continued to show more concern for his own interests than for the will of God. Evidently Samuel had gained a reputation as an executioner since he had killed Agag (1 Samuel 16:4; cf. 1... read more